Glass sponges build their skeletons out of silicon dioxide (i.e. glass). While these animals are found all over the world in very deep water, they only exist shallower than 50 m in a few places in the world. In very rare cases, new sponges grow on top of existing, dead sponges and form reefs in […]

At harvest, the males of a mixed female/male culture of farmed Sockeye salmon are larger in freshwater culture. This research will enhance the percentages of male fish in a mixed female/male cultured population of Sockeye so as to increase the harvest weight of the fish. In addition, proteomics will be used to identify key markers […]

Echinacea purpurea is a popular herbal medicine with a global market of ?$1 billion but there is tremendous variability yet limited distinction between the products on the market. Amway Canada is a leader in the production and distribution of Echinacea products, and now aims to leverage the company`s unique Echinacea resources by sequencing the plant`s […]

In Manitoba, elk herds are either small or declining, and the relationship between farmland use by elk and population declines is unclear. Animals typically choose to either avoid predators or access good food resources when choosing habitat, and this trade-off may bring about natural selection if some individuals make better decisions than others. Our project […]

Birds at airports present danger to moving aircraft and other vehicles using the area. Some of the higher risk bird species are ducks, gulls and shorebirds who come to the grassy areas surrounding the runways to feed on insects. We are attempting to reduce the numbers of these high-risk birds using the Vancouver International Airport […]

Cancer afflicts 1 in 8 people worldwide. Recent advancements in bench-to-bedside translational research has resulted in numerous effective treatments. However, a harsh reality still exists in that only ~20% of patients respond positively to treatment. Not all cancers are created equal, which has led to these clinical complexities undermining treatment options. It is our goal […]

Pascal Biosciences Inc. is a company developing immuno-oncology therapeutics to fight cancer. It was initially founded on ideas and research that originated from Dr. Wilf Jefferies’ laboratory at the University of British Columbia. Since then, the company has continued to collaborate with Dr. Jefferies and his team to forward the research, through direct sponsorship and […]

We will use a database of more than 30 years of scientific survey and citizen-science observations of common loon breeding on lakes in Ontario, as well as other parts of Canada, to determine whether loons now breed successfully on lakes where they were negatively affected by acid rain (and other human threats like development). Our […]

Cannabinoids are diverse chemical compounds that are created by the Cannabis crop. To produce and extract the necessary amounts of cannabinoids for the market is taxing on the environment due to its high energy input costs. However, through the use of synthetic biology and genetic engineering, cannabis related chemicals can be created using simple yeast […]

Throughout much of North America moose populations are in decline and Manitoba is no exception. This project will determine what factors promoting occupancy and abundance at local and regional scales in Manitoba; and subsequently identify the most efficient way to monitor moose populations in relation to local and regional factors, such as hydroelectric power transmission […]

In the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, California bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis california) populations have declined by 60% since 2011, likely due to a new mite infestation, Psoroptes ovis. These mites cause hearing loss and impaired awareness in wild sheep, possibly increasing their vulnerability to predation by cougars (Felis concolour). To assess this risk, data […]

This project aims to develop genomic tools to enhance Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) aquaculture in Canada. Genomic tools have the power to improve selective breeding programs by accelerating production, increasing profitability, and ensuring environmentally responsible practices. However, genomic tools are lacking for the Eastern oyster. This study will design and validate the first high-density panel […]